Harry Potter TV Actor Paapa Essiedu Slams Racist Abuse After Snape Casting

“The abuse fuels me,” he continued, “and makes me more passionate about making this character my own, because I think of how I felt as a kid. I would imagine myself at Hogwarts on broomsticks, and the idea that a kid like me can see themselves represented in that world? That’s motivation to not be intimidated by someone saying they’d rather I died instead of doing work I’m going to be really proud of.”

Alongside the abuse, Essiedu noted that he had also received messages of support. Last year, Harry Potter film star Jason Isaacs hit out at “rude” and “racist” criticism of Essiedu, who he described as “one of the best actors I’ve ever seen in my life.” Isaacs added: “They will be swallowing their tongues, hopefully — you know, their digital tongues — when they see what [Paapa] does on screen.”

Discussion of Essiedu’s casting has ranged from complaints that the actor does not fit the physical appearance of Snape in the original books — a claim previously lodged against the Black casting of Hermione in the hugely-successful Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage show — and the suggestion that Snape being Black changes the dynamic of his story, particularly him being bullied as a schoolchild by Harry’s father and friends, and his unrequited love for Harry’s mother.

But while some have said the casting is too much of a departure, others have suggested the move will bring elements of Snape’s story into sharper focus, making for a stronger story overall.

Essiedu’s casting also sparked headlines after the actor was one of many signatories to an open letter expressing support for the trans community, following a recent UK Supreme Court ruling on the country’s Equality Act. Asked whether Essiedu’s support meant that outspoken gender rights critic JK Rowing would have him fired, the author replied that she didn’t “believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”

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